Datus l



(No Model.) 7 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

D. L. HAYS.

FLY TRAP. No. 577,855. Patented Mar.. 2,1897.

QIm!wywllllllllllllllllllllllllllll l lllllllllAlllll Igaczzjfor UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DATUS L. HAYS, OF MOOERS FORKS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORA OF ONE-HALF TO SIGNOR P. MORGAN, OF SAME PLACE.

FLY-TRAP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 577,855, dated March 2, 1897.

Application led Tune 11, 1896.

To all whom t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, DATUS L. HAYS, a citi- Zen of the United States, residing at Mooers Forks, in the county of Clinton and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Fly-Trap, of which the following is a specification. i

The invention relates to improvements in fly-traps.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of fly-traps and to provide a simple and comparatively inexpensive device adapted to attract and trap flies and capable of enabling them to be readily destroyed after they have been captured.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a fly-trap constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical lon gitudinal sectional view. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional View illustrating the construction of the stationary trap-frame and the automatic brush for forcing the iiies into the cage or receptacle. Fig. Llis a detail perspective view of the trap-frame. Fig. 5 is a detail perspectivc'view of the automatically-operating brush.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

1 designates a frame or casing receiving a spring-motor 2, which is provided with a fangovernor 3 to regulate the speed, but instead of employing a spring-motor any other suitable power may be used. The spring-motor rotates a vertical shaft 4, journaled in suitable bearings and extending through the top of the frame or casing 1 and carrying a rotary' frame or wheel 5, provided with a rim or band 6, which is supported by radial arms or spokes 7 and the latter are secured to the shaft by means of a suitable hub 8.

The rim or band of the rotary frame or Wheel is curved or corrugated at regular intervals to provide an annular series of concave faces 9, which are separated by radially-disposed Serial No. 595,188. (No model.)

ridges l0. These curved or concave portions are provided with central circular depressions ll, forming bait-receptacles and adapted to receive any suitable substance for attracting iiies which light on the rim or band in the curved or concave portions thereof. As the wheel or frame rotates the iiies are carried slowly and imperceptibly under a stationary trap-frame 12, curved to conform to the configuration of the rim or band and comprising a top located above the rim or band and curved sides, between which the rim or band passes. The front of the trap-frame, which is adj ustably mounted to position it properly with relation to the frame or band of the rotary frame or wheel, is provided at its top with a transparent portion 13, which may be constructed in any suitable manner, such as by providing a plate of glass,mica,wiregauze, or any analogous material which will permit light to pass through it.

The flies are imperceptibly carried under the front portion of the trap-frame, and they are confined therein by the ridges at the ends of the curved or concave portions and are forced upward through an opening 14 of the trap-frame into a cage or receptacle 1.5.

The stationary trap-frame is mounted on a rod 16, disposed horizontally and adj ustably secured by a clamping-screw 7 in a horizontal perforation of the adjustable standard 1S. The rod is adapted to be moved longitudinally to arrange the curved sides of the trap-frame in proper position to prevent the rim or band of the rotary frame or wheel from binding against them, and the adjustable standard, which is composed of telescoping sections, permits the trap-frame to be adjusted vertically to bring the ridges of the rim or band sufficiently close to the top of the stationary trap-frame to prevent flies from escaping at the front of the frame by passing between the ridges and the top thereof.

When the flies arrive at the opening le,

they are caused to pass upward into the cage IOO ing flange 20. The brush is capable'of swinging upward and downward, being preferably hinged to the trap-frame, although it may, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, loosely rest upon the trap-frame. The lower portion or lip of the L-shaped flange is curved and is adapted to rest upon the riin or band, and as the wheel or frame rotates the brush is alternately raised and lowered and is adapted to brush the flies from the rim or band to prevent them from passing it and following` the rotation of the rim or band and cause the flies to pass upward through the opening 14. The flies are brought to the lip or flange of the brush by the rotation of the wheel, and as the brush moves upward it carries the flies with it, forcing them through the opening 14, the adjacent ridge preventing any return movement of the flies.

When the brush is loosely arranged on the top of the trap-frame, it is preferably provided with a notch or slot 2l to receive a projection or pin 22 of the trap-frame to prevent the rear portion of the brush from moving laterally and causing the front portion to bind. The trap-frame is provided with a transverse rod 23, located directly above the lip of the L-shaped flange and preventing the same from being accidentally thrown out of position by any sudden movement of the gearing or the like.

The cage or receptacle is preferably substantially spherical. It is constructed of two separable sections, and it is provided at its bottom with a metal plate having a depending front portion upon which are mounted tapering or pyramidal escape tubes or ways 24, forming passages for the flies and permitting them to escape from the trap-frame into the cage. The adjacent edges of the sections of the receptacle or cage are provided with bands 25, which frictionally engage each other, whereby the sections are held together. After the receptacle or cage has received a sufcient number of flies it may be readily removed from the device and immersed in hot water or other liquid to destroy the flies, which are emptied from the trap or cage after being killed.

The plate at the bottom of the receptacle is provided with perforations and is detachably supported by posts 26.

It will be seen that the fly-trap is simple and comparatively inexpensive in construction, that it is positive and reliable in operation, and that it is capable of effectively attracting flies and of enabling the same to be readily destroyed.

Changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may 4be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

What I claim isl. In a ily-trap, the combination of a rotary frame or wheel arranged horizontally and provided with an annular series of curved portions forming ridges at their ends and provided at points between their ends with baitreceiving depressions, a cage located above the rotary frame or wheel, and an automatically-operating brush resting upon the curved portions of the frame or wheel and actuated by contact with the same, wherebyit is moved upward and downward and is adapted to brush flies from the frame or wheel and carry them upward into the cage, substantially as described.

2. In a iiy-trap, the combination of a rotary frame or wheel provided with a rim having an annular series of curved portions forming intervening ridges, a stationary trap-frame forming a passage for the rim of the wheel or frame and covering a portion thereof, a receptacle located above the trap-frame, and an automatically-operatin g device capable of moving upward and downward and resting upon and actuated by the frame, whereby flies are brushed from the latter and carried upward into the receptacle, substantially as described.

3. In a ily-trap, the combination of a rotary frame or wheel provided with a rim having a series of curved portions forming ridges and provided with depressions to receive a suitable bait, a stationary trap-frame conforming to the configuration and receiving a portion of the frame and provided at its top with an opening for the passage of flies, a receptacle mounted on the trap-frame and having a ilyentrance located over the opening of the trapframe, a movable brush mounted on the trapframe and having a substantially L-shaped flange located at the opening of the trap-frame and resting upon the frame and moved upward and downward by the same, whereby flies are forced upward from the opening in the receptacle, substantially as described.

4. In a ily-trap, the combination of a frame, a wheel provided with a rim having an annular series of curved portions forming radial ridges, means for rotating the wheel, a stationary trap-frame conforming tothe co'nguration and covering a portion of the rim and provided at its front with a transparent portion, said trap-frame being provided in rear of the transparent portion with an opening, a removable receptacle mounted on the trapframe and having a fly-'entrance located over the opening thereof, an automatically-operating brush consisting of a plate loosely arranged on the top of the trap-frame, and a depending L.shaped flange arranged at the opening of the trap-frame and resting upon the rim, a transverse rod mounted on the trapframe and located in front of the L-shaped flange, and means for holdin g the rear portion of the plate in position, substantially as described.

5. In a fly-trap, the combination of a wheel provided with a rim having a series of curved portions, a trap-frame provided with a hori- IOO IIO

zontal forwardly-extending rod, a standard In testimony that I claim the foregoing as capable of Vertical adjustment and having an my own I have hereto affixed my signature in openiugreoeivng the rod, means for securing the presence of two Witnesses.

the rod n the opening, a receptacle mounted DATUS L. HAYS. 5 on the trap-frame, and means for brushing Witnesses:

ies from the rim and forcing them in the re- HENRY G. FIFIELD,

oeptaole, substantially as described. l R. WALES MORGAN. 

